> The Magic Paint Brushes
>  by Ugly-Duckling123
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once upon a time, not so long ago, or that far away, there lived a girl who hated school.  She didn’t hate it because of the lessons, nor because of the students who kept whispering to each other as she passed by.  No she hated school because her parents were in charge and because of this she was expected to do her best and be sensible. But Sarah was the kind of girl who wore incorrect uniform, had hair covering half of her face, always chewed gum and listened to music, and although she was a bright kid, purposely got bad grades.

One day as she was coming home from walking her dog Midnight, who her parents had bought for her to keep her company at home while they were still at school sorting out the next days schedule, Sarah spotted a moving van unloading its things into the house across the street, and on the pavement next to it, she saw a boy looking a bit sad reading something. Feeling neighborly Sarah went over to say hello. But as got there.... 

“What do you want Princess?”

A bit shocked at this Sarah didn’t say anything for a moment. Then she said “For your information ‘New Kid’ my names Sarah not Princess, and all I wanted was to say hello and introduce myself.”

“Well looks as though you’ve done that hasn’t it, Princess Sarah,” said the boy getting up and giving a mock bow “So if you please I’m going in.”

Sarah and Midnight stared in silence as the boy walked to the door and went inside without a backwards glance. 

“The nerve of that boy, right Midnight?” Sarah yelled after she was in her room with dinner on a tray. Midnight didn’t hear as she was asleep, she was used to her mistress ranting/complaining about things she, as a dog, didn't understand. 


*


At school the next morning, Sarah was putting the final detail to her murdered boy doodle, when the door opened and in walked her dad and... that boy from yesterday.

“Attention students. This is Eric Foster. He will be joining your class from today, so please welcome him and in turn I‘m sure you’ll become friends.”

“Ha! As if,” Sarah called out not caring that everyone was staring at her.

“Miss Jones, a few words in the corridor please,” her dad said and waited till she had gone to follow. “What was that about then?” 

Sarah prepared to speak as loud as she could to make sure everyone on the other side of the door could hear her “Well if you were home last night you would have seen me go over the road and try and introduce myself to that toad, and see he doesn’t give anything back for people who care to.”

“I will have none of that Sarah” her dad said getting annoyed, “Now, your mother and I have invited the Fosters over for tea tonight and you’ll be on your best behavior in your Sunday best. And once you get back in there,” pointing at the door “you’ll find him and apologize.” 

“And if I don’t?” Sarah asked annoyed.

“If you don’t, I’ll tell your mother to put all your baby photos on the school website.” Her dad said with a hint of an evil smile.

“Fine!” she said, and went back in to the room, to see to her even more annoyance that Eric was placed right behind her.





That night, for the first time since the last new kid who came to town, Sarah’s parents were home for tea, and at six o’clock the door bell rang. As her mother went to open it her father dragged her aside and said “Remember our talk Sarah? Best behavior.”

On the other side of the door however, to her unknowing, Eric was getting the same words.
“Best behavior Eric, we’re guests here remember. I don’t want to see how you were with that girl last night.”

“Yes mother” Eric said as the door opened.

As the door opened a Black Labrador ran out from the kitchen, which Eric was sure he had seen not so long ago, and gulped.  

As the Fosters were lead by Sarah’s mum into the living room, Eric kept his eyes open for the girl he hoped wasn’t there, but sure enough after everyone had settled down, in walked Sarah, in the dress she always wore at these greeting dinners, hair brushed and tied back (looking nothing like the girl Eric had met yesterday) and Mr. Jones with the starters. 

Nothing much was said while the starters were being dealt with, but as Sarah was about to go back into the kitchen with the plates and bring out the main course...

“Let me help you with that Sarah,” Eric said surprising everyone, even himself.

“Err... alright,” she answered back “thank you.” And she lead him into the kitchen where Midnight was on her kitchen bed having her dinner.

“Still think I’m a princess then ‘Sir Eric’?” Sarah asked returning the mock bow he gave her yesterday with a very ladylike curtsey.

“Well you do look more like one now than you did yesterday,” then seeing that Sarah was getting annoyed, said the real reason why he had followed her “I’m sorry that we started off like that. The reason why was because my granddad had just passed away, and then my mum said we were moving, and that I had to go to a new school, and it was because I was upset that those first words were the ones I said. So once again,” Eric said this time giving a real chivalry bow “I’m sorry.”

While Eric was giving his speech, Midnight had got up from her bed and had walked up to her mistress’s side, just in case this boy did something to her.

Sarah, knowing that Midnight well enough that she would start barking if she didn’t trust Eric. Quickly she looked him up and down putting a comforting hand on Midnight to tell her there’s nothing to worry about.

“Alright I forgive you,” she said with a smile “Now may you help me give out the main course like you asked?” and after Sarah took Midnight back to her bed, they both went back into the living room.  
> chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, because as her parents had to open the school and check that everything was alright, Sarah was woken up to Midnight’s barking telling her to have breakfast and get to school.

Sarah had just shut the front door when she heard Eric calling to her.

“Morning Princess,” he said with a smile, crossing the road so they could talk easier.

“Good morning sir knight,” Sarah returned with a smile of her own “Maybe last nights’ dinner was a good thing” she said as they both set off to school together “At least now we both have someone else to be miserable with.”

“Talking of that, my granddads painting were delivered yesterday,” Eric said in a hoping voice “Err... to say another sorry, do you want to come over later and look at them? You can bring Midnight, if you want, but only if she’s good with cats,”

This surprised Sarah for a bit but answered “Ok, thank you.”

To everyone else in school that day Sarah seemed different, no more head phones, or as much drawing in or rather on her books, she seemed alright with Eric sitting behind her. What could have happened? Was she sick? Maybe she needed to see the nurse? Whatever it was half the school was worried, while the other was happy for her to of finally of made a friend.

As the bell went and everyone was going out the front door, Eric caught up with her. 
“You still coming over?” he asked as they waited for the traffic light to change. 

“Sure I just need to take Midnight for a walk around the block first, it shouldn’t take too long.” Sarah answered crossing the road “it will give you some time to find and display your paintings.” She said with a smile.

“I’m home!” Sarah called as she shut the door, and put down her bag, “Hello, hello, hello. Midnight?” 

After no answer Sarah thought Midnight may be sleeping, so she went into the kitchen. But she wasn’t there. Next stop, the bedroom, not there either. Getting worried Sarah went outside to look into Midnight’s dog house, but once again no dog.

“O.k. There’s no need to worry yet, Sarah.” She told herself “May be I didn’t shut the door properly this morning and she got out.  But she knows not to do that in case she gets lost or a car is coming.  Well whatever it is its still one day; if she’s missing tomorrow I’ll tell someone.”

After setting out a bowl of food and water to try and draw Midnight back home, Sarah went across the road to Eric’s. After knocking Sarah could have sworn she heard a dog barking, even though it seemed this morning that Eric had a cat. After the door opened however, a big black something came running down the hall and knocked her over. It was Midnight.

“Nice to see you’re back together Sarah,” came Mrs. Foster’s voice from above her.

“Err... yes thank you for looking after her today,” Sarah said getting up “How did she get out? I thought I shut all the doors right.”

“Well after you and Eric went off to school this morning dear,” Mrs. Foster said letting Sarah and Midnight back inside, “I went over to slip a ‘Thank you for dinner last night’ slip though your door and saw it was open a little bit.  I think, at hearing someone at the door, Midnight got excited and ran to it, and somehow got out.” 

She continued as she led Sarah in to the living room and started to serve biscuits and juice. “I ran after her after shutting your front door properly first and bought her here. I was going to wait to this evening to give her back, but it seems you can take her home right away.” Mrs foster ended with a smile “it’s been very nice having you here Midnight.”

“Well actually, I came over to see Eric, he said I could come and see his granddads paintings, as a sorry for how he acted when we first met.”

“So that’s what’s got him so quiet then is it?” Mrs Foster said with another smile. “Well I shouldn’t keep you then, his room is up the stairs and the third on the left.”

On finishing her drink, biscuits and thanking Eric’s mum again Sarah went upstairs with Midnight and, after knocking, went into the room she had said. 

Inside there were paintings everywhere, on the floor, on the units, and all over the bed. Bending down Sarah spoke to Midnight, “O.k. I know it seems like their toys, but don’t touch any of these paintings alight?” 

“Oh she can touch them, she just can’t rip them to pieces,” Eric said coming out from a walk-in cupboard. 

After ten minutes, Sarah started to spot something really odd. “What was your granddad’s name again, Eric?” 

“Samuel P. Foster,” Eric answered coming over to see what was going on “why?”  

“Because the initials on three of the seven I’ve looked at don’t have those letters” Sarah said pointing them out “and they have dates on them too,” she said speaking more to herself than Eric who was still confused. 

Looking closer Sarah saw the paintings she had bought forward were all acrylic midnight landscapes each one by the looks of it around the same place but there were four stars that seemed to move closer together in each one.  “Quick,” Sarah shouted, rather loudly scaring Midnight and Eric, “Find all the acrylic midnight landscapes!  I think there’s a secret message in them.” She said and got to work to find them.

Another ten minutes later, after going through every pile, there was a small stack of acrylic paintings in front of them raining from 1914 to 1945. 

“The world wars,” Sarah whispered. “Now let’s get them in order,” she said and started to check the dates, “do you have any pens and paper?” she asked looking up at Eric who nodded and went to find them as she got to work. 
Eric came back in with a pen and notepad looking at Sarah, still a bit confused.  “O.k. Now what?” he said.

“I’ll call out the letters and dates, just in case I’ve got them in the wrong order and you write them down.” Sarah said looking at him, “Right first one, September 1st 1914, M, A.” She looked up to see if Eric got it, with an answering nod she continued. 


*


“And finally August 15th 1945 H, E, S.” Sarah concluded placing down the last painting and sitting next to Eric. 

“So is there a message in there?” 

Still confused Eric handed Sarah the note pad with all the letters and dates she had just called out to him. 

“Magic... Paint... Brushes?” Sarah said in a questioning voice. “Just a bit of a chance here but can you go get your granddads painting stuff?”  

Being the chivalry knight he was, Eric followed his princess’ requests and a while later, came back with all the painting supplies that had once belonged to his granddad.

There were acrylic paints, water paints, oil paints, calk and oil pastels, a number of dried out brushes and some that looked brand new, pencils, erasers, at least three paint pallets, and finally instructions on how to get different colors.

After asking if she could touch them, Sarah dove right in and started to separate everything into their groups, to see if there was another message or anything strange with them.

Eric was with Midnight both having no idea what Sarah hoping to find amongst all of the old instruments she had in front of her.

Sarah didn’t know what she was hoping to find either, but that didn’t stop her from looking. Until she saw that all the well cared for brushes were singed ‘made by L.d.V, in Rome, Italy.’

“L.d.V? L.d.V?” Sarah kept saying to herself, wondering who it might be. “Leonardo da Vinci!”

“That guy we were taught about in art class today?” Eric asked shocking Sarah a bit “But how he lived over a hundred years ago.”

“Maybe they were either handed down, you know father to son or more likely to start it off his favorite student, or you granddad was just lucky to find them and how they were magic, and wants you to do the same.” Sarah said really fast. 

“Ok...” Eric said looking over Midnight who, to his little annoyance had fallen asleep so he was on his own. “Err... Maybe that it’s that they can last a long time, I mean look at them” Eric said hoping not to sound scared or stupid, “They look almost brand new, for things that should have come from the late 1400’s.”

“Tender love and care can do that too,” Sarah butted in, “Then again if Granddad Sam did for them why not these ones” Sarah asked more to herself than Eric pointing to the dried out brushes, and reached over to the pad and paper noting down all the things they just found out and the first question on how the brushes were ‘magic’.

Suddenly there came a knock on the door. 

“What would you like for dinner tonight Eric?” Mrs Foster asked poking her head into the room “oh and Sarah can stay too of course, if you want to stay a bit longer dear,” she said looking at Sarah and seeing that something was happening here with her father – in – law’s old painting stuff that she always knew had been special but had never found out what it was. 

“Err.... Thank you for the offer Mrs Foster, but I think I should be getting back across the street.” Sarah said getting up blushing a bit, “it might seem strange but I have a curfew of not being out after dark.”

“Oh, I insist my dear,” Mrs Foster said “as a thank you for last night. If it makes you feel better, I can call your parents and see if you can stay a bit longer.”

Knowing it would be rude to say no to someone who cared for her dog all day and had given her cookies and juice when she came over, Sarah finally said alright to stay for dinner.


*


“What was that about?” Eric said whispering to Sarah after his mum had gone to make tea. “Don’t you trust my mum or something?”

“Of course I trust her, she was the only one, as it sounds, who went after Midnight and looked after her all day,” Sarah said going over to pet her dog “it’s just, it may be hard to believe this, I’ve never been invited over or for tea around someone else’s house before.”

“I thought a cute princess like you would be invited to a dinner almost every other night” he said gasping as he heard what he had just said.

“You think I’m cute?” Sarah asked blushing “Sir Knight?”

“Well...” Eric began but was cut off by the shock of Sarah kissing him, gasping as she pulled away from him.

“I... I’m sorry, I need to go,” Sarah said getting her stuff “Come on Midnight.” 

And before Eric could do anything else Sarah ran out of the front door, home, up the stairs, and shut herself in her room.

Back in Eric’s room “Nice job Eric... you finally get a princess worth having and you scare her out the door.” 
He continued to talk to himself as he packed up his granddads tools and went down to tell in mother that Sarah wouldn’t be there for tea after all.
> chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next day at school Sarah had gone back to her old ways again, only this time was quieter than normal. As though she had something on her mind. These thoughts were confirmed with her doodle drawing (heads on spikes, black swans, dragons, and surprisingly to most of her classmates and teachers, hearts). She also people noticed, a few times, got awfully clumsily and blushed, whenever she was around Eric. ’What’s that about?’ they asked each other.

Eric on the other hand, after being eager to learn and to get into things yesterday, had his head down and wasn’t paying all that attention to anything that was going on. 

By lunch Eric had well questioned as to not give anything away, to everyone he knew he could trust and the teachers, ‘What could make something, like a paint brush, magic?’

Most of the answers were ‘they can turn you into a good painter’, others were ‘you think of something and they do the job for you’, some more were ‘take you to a new world’ while more people said ‘you paint something and it becomes real’.





After school that day, Sarah thought it would be polite of her to say sorry for ditching the Fosters last night, and so, after Midnight's walk, went across the road and knocked on the door.

"Hello Sarah," Mrs Foster said opening the door a wooden spoon in her hand.

"Er... Hello Mrs Foster, I... I just wanted to say sorry for not staying last night," Sarah said twiddling her thumbs nodding her thanks as she invited her in.

"Oh that's quite alright, dear," Mrs Foster said, bringing out some juice for her, smiling.

"You... You sure?" Sarah asked taking the cup.

"Yes it happens all the time. Someone new comes to town, the people feel strange about them, and feel like they should get to know them better first. Right?" she asked.

"Er..." Sarah said looking anywhere but at Mrs Foster's eyes. 

"Well what ever it was, I'm sure it will be fixed in time." she said getting up as a beeper went off. "Eric in his room if you want to see him dear."

Thinking that he deserved an apology as well, Sarah put down the cup, and went upstairs.





Upstairs Eric was putting the finishing touches on his try at a midnight landscape. 

'Tap' 'Tap' 'Tap'

"Come in," Eric said finishing the full moon set in the middle of the picture. 

"Um... Hey Eric..." Sarah said after coming in.

"Ah my fair Princess," Eric said bowing with a smile. "Do you like the painting?" he asked moving out of the way.

"You did this in just one afternoon?" Sarah asked coming forward.

"Well yeah," Eric said "I mean we have to work out how these brushes are magic, don't we?" Eric said finishing fixing the craters on the moon to look like a unicorn.

"Why are you doing that?" Sarah asked.

"My grandad had a saying, 'If it comes to you, draw it,' " Eric said making his way to the tip of the horn. "Last night, I dreamt I saw the moon looking like this, and so, started painting." As he was about to finish, he turned around smiling. "Would you like to finish it My Lady?" he asked brush in hand.

"Why thank you good Sir Knight," Sarah said plotting the tip of the horn on the picture. 

But as soon as she had done this the paint brush began to feel warm in her hand and the moon in the picture seemed to be getting brighter.

"What did you do?" Eric asked shielding his eyes from the light feeling wind in his hair.

"I... I didn't do anything," Sarah answered back feeling that she was being sucked into the painting.

"Sarah!" Eric said reaching out a hand feeling himself being drawn in too.

Suddenly a bright light filled the room aimed at the two of them and within seconds they were gone.








Now not a lot of people know this, but there are actually different universes, and in each one although it's different, somethings are the same. 

For example, a coin flip, or what creature's the dominate race. Some universes even have magic and magical creatures in them. 

We are now in Equestria, a land ruled over by two Alicorn sisters, Celestia and Luna. Together along with a student of Celestia's and her friends, they keep their kingdom free of danger. 

One of which, still remains unknown to any of them. Long ago Luna grew jealous of every-pony loving her sister's day more than her night. Not being able to stand it anymore, her heart grew blacker than her darkest nights and she became Nightmare Moon. After being locked on the moon for a thousand years, she came back to try and take over again only to be defeated by Twilight Sparkle and her friends along with the Elements of Harmony - the same things that trapped her in the moon.

No-pony knew her spirit still lived in the castle of the Royal Pony Sisters within the dark forest of the Everfree next to the small town of Ponyville. Biding her time until something new came, or she was strong enough to try and take over Equestria again.

That day she felt something new enter this universe, so she set out to try and find it.

It felt like it was by the edge of the forest closest to Ponyville. Changing into one of her Shadow Bolts so she could leave the forest, she went to see what it was.

It was a boy, a human boy. Not knowing what was so important about him, but sensing that he had something in him, she took him back to the castle, not seeing the girl lying at the bottom of the same hill holding a paint brush in her hand.





In a dark cell like room Eric was just waking up rubbing his head.

"Good to see you awake," a voice said that... did not sound like someone he knew.

"Who..." he asked looking around himself to work out where he was and who was talking.

"I'll ask the questions. If you don't mind." a voice from the shadows said, two draconic eyes pointing at him.

"First two," it said "Who are you, and where did you come from?" 

Eric was not about to answer to someone he did not know.

"I  said, 'Who are you, and where did you come from?'" the voice repeated.

"I heard ya," Eric said. "But you think, I'll give away any answers to someone who seemingly locked me up, and wont let me see them or tell me who they are?" 

Growls could be heard from the shadows. Then stepping into the light came a transparent black Alicorn, her wings spread out, in what looked like light blue armor, her mane and tail looked like the night sky constantly flowing. 

"My name whelp, is Nightmare Moon," she said a little annoyed. "Now answer my questions... Who are you, and where did you come from?"

Just as Eric was about to, he noticed someone was missing. 

"Where's Sarah?" was what Eric said first.

"Who?" Nightmare Moon asked getting more annoyed.

"My princess," Eric said. "She should have been with me. So where is she?"

"I am the only Princess here boy." Nightmare Moon said stomping her transparent hoof in anger.

"Then I guess, I wont be talking to you." Eric said crossing his arms. "Until I'm sure my princess is safe, I'm not saying anything."

"Well you better get used to living here then boy," Nightmare Moon said. "Because until you speak, You're not leaving this castle."
Nightmare Moon said turning into smoke and flew down the corridor, leaving the boy alone.

"Oh Sarah, where are you?" Eric asked himself looking out the window to see a dark forest.





The sun was almost halfway though the sky when Sarah woke up rubbing her head, looking around seeing she was definitely  not in Eric's room anymore.

"Well, at least we've worked out how these things are magic..." she said.

"Er... who exactly are you talking to?" a voice asked getting Sarah to look around, but couldn't see anyone.

"Up here weirdo," it said. 

Looking up Sarah was surprised in quite a few ways...

One was seeing a blue Pegasus mare with a rainbow mane, two seeing said Pegasus on a cloud as if she had been watching her for as long as she had got there, three since no one else was around it seemed...

"Well who you talking to?" the Pegasus said smiling at how she had made this thing fall down in surprise.

Knowing it would be rude to ask 'What are you?' Sarah asked the question just below that.

"Er... Who... Who are you?" she asked getting up looking into the mare's eyes. 

"Name's Rainbow Dash," the pony said "But I think the better question is who are you? And I'll ask again... Who are you talking to. You and I are the only two up here."

"My names Sarah..." Sarah said giving a slight curtsey not knowing how she was supposed to introduce herself. "And I was talking to..." But then something caught up with her and she started to look around for Eric, noticing that they were the only ones there. "Er... was there a boy, with me Rainbow Dash?" she asked looking up.

"The only weirdo I've seen up here today is you 'Sarah' What sort of name is that anyway?" Rainbow said.  

Suddenly it started becoming dark, as something started blocking out the sun.

"An eclipse?" Sarah asked eyes wide, noting how worried this made Rainbow Dash somehow.

"I've gotta go," Rainbow said zooming off towards the town that was at the bottom of the hill. Leaving a confused and now slightly scared Sarah on the hill to slowly make her way down it to try and get some help.
> chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sarah made it down the hill and spotted a town some way off, so she decided to visit it and ask for help in finding of Eric. 

She noticed that the beings running around, almost scared like, were more ponies like like Rainbow Dash. As she got to what seemed to be a market place because of all the carts, each pony was either looking at her oddly, or had gone into what was supposedly their homes, running from... 'the eclipse?' But why?

"Er... Hello?" Sarah said looking around not sure how to react. 

Suddenly something very fast and very pink came around the corner and knocked her down.

"Hey," Sarah said getting up. 

"Oh boy a new friend," the pink pony said hugging Sarah a bit too tightly. "My name's Pinkie Pie," she said "What's yours?"

"Sarah Jones?" Sarah said trying to get the pink mare off of her. "Look Pinkie... I'd really like to be your friend, but the boy I came here with is missing.... so I think I'll just see if I can find him."

"Can I at least show you to my other friends first?" Pinkie said giving Sarah big almost pleading eyes.

"Alright," Sarah said sighing, not really one for making friends. "But then I'd need to find Eric ok." 

"Is he your special-somepony?" Pinkie asked mischief in her eye.

"My what...?" Sarah said now back on her feet following Pinkie out of the market place and down a road.

"You know the one you want on Hearts and Hooves day." Pinkie said smiling a giddy smile.

"Er... I don't think we have that back home Pinkie," Sarah said trying to work out what these sayings and holidays mean. "We have a Valentines day where people send cards to the people they love. Not that I ever got anything. And if I did it was because they thought I could get my parents to give them good grades on their report cards." 

"First stop, Applejack," Pinkie said bringing Sarah back to where she was.

Looking around, Sarah saw they were at a apple farm and under the trees kicking down apples were an orange mare in a Stetson and a red stallion in a yoke. 

"Hiya Applejack. Hiya Bic Mac," Pinkie called out walking over to the two followed slowly by Sarah. 

"Howdy Pinkie," the orange one (probably Applejack) said wiping her forehead. Then seeing Sarah asked. "Gonna introduce us to your newest friend there Pinks?" 

"This is Sarah Jones," Pinkie said in a bouncy expression, Sarah didn't really like. "Sarah, this is Applejack and her big brother Big Mac." 

"Hello..." she said curtsying sheepishly.

"Sarah said she's lost somepony she came here with." Pinkie said explaining their situation.

"Well where'd you wake up Sugarcube?" Applejack asked kicking a close by tree making apples falling out of it.

"Up by that hill over there," Sarah said pointing towards the trees she saw when she woke up. "I meet someone called 'Rainbow Dash...?' But as soon as the eclipse started, she left me." 

"Thinking about it," Applejack said to herself, "I don't remember either Celestia, or Luna saying anything about doing one. Do you Mac?" 

"Nope..." Mac sad putting one of the baskets in a cart.

"And isn't it going on a bit long?"

"Yep," Mac said looking up at the sky chewing on the hay stalk thinking.

"Er... who are Celestia and Luna?" Sarah asked not knowing who to ask moving forward to help Mac with the baskets.

"Why they're the two Princesses of Equestria." Applejack answered readjusting her hat.

"And... Where's Equestria?" Sarah asked guessing the answer already. 

"Here of course silly," Pinkie Pie said bouncing around her new friend.

"Wasn't it like this on that Summer Sun Celebration, little sister?" Mac asked kicking some more trees.

"Well yeah Mac," Applejack said "But that was because of Nightmare Moon coming back."

"Who?" Sarah asked looking around at each pony as if they were speaking a different language.

"She was a big meanie beau-beany who tried to shroud the world in eternal night, who turned out to be Princess Luna after we blasted her with the Elements of Harmony." Pinkie said speaking all of this in one breath still bouncing around Sarah happily.

"Before she came back, she was known as the Mare in the Moon, which every-pony thought was an old mares tale." Applejack said.

"Wait did you said Mare in the Moon?" Sarah asked, then after thinking for a while....  "By any chance did the moon have craters in the shape of a Unicorn with four stars always getting closer to it?" Sarah asked thinking of the paintings that Grandad Sam made and the one that bought her and Eric there.

"Just how'd you know about that Sugarcube?" Applejack asked.

"The boy I came here with said he had a dream of a moon with a Unicorn on it," Sarah said "And his grandfather kept painting night landscapes with stars moving, and there was a message in those paintings saying 'Magic Paint Brushes'" she said taking out the paint brush so the ponies could see it. "And somehow as we finished it, the painting bought us here. Well I hope it did, like I said, I don't know where he is." Sarah said looking into the sky.

"You said you met Rainbow Dash when you woke up Sarah?" Applejack said walking up to her.

"Yeah," Sarah said looking down "Why?"

"She's one of our friends," Pinkie said walking up to the other side of Sarah. "She's a blue Pegasus with a rainbow mane, a bit short tempered at times, a bit stubborn, the fastest flyer in Equestria and the only pony to do a Sonic-Rainboom." Pinkie listed for Sarah about her friend.

Suddenly a stampede of little animals came running through the the trees towards them a yellow Pegasus trying to call them back.

"Angel, stop! Where are you going?" she called out. 

Applejack put her hoof in her mouth and whistled, a collie came out of the house a few seconds later.

"Winona, herd them up!" she said pointing to the critters.

After a few minutes the dog had rounded up the animals and returned to her mistress, making Sarah to think of Midnight.

"Thank you Applejack something spooked them I don't know what," the Pegasus said panting then spotted Sarah and hid behind her mane her wings were clamped to her sides. "Who... Who are you?" she said barely above a whisper.

"Er... I'm Sarah," Sarah said not sure how to react to the shy mare.

Thinking it was because she was taller, Sarah got down on her knees a 'no need to be afraid'  look on her face. 

When Fluttershy still didn't respond, Sarah backed away a bit as well.

Slowly Fluttershy came out from behind her mane and went over to her animals to see if they were alright.

"Just like the kids back home," Sarah said changing her position to cry into her knees as quietly as she could. "I try to be nice, they just run away."

Thinking it would cheer her up, Pinkie fished a cupcake out of her mane.

"Hey Sarah, do you like cupcakes?" she said offering the small dessert.

"Not at the moment Pinkie thank you," Sarah said wiping tears away getting up. "I think I'll just find Eric and try and work out how to get home."

At the name 'Eric' Angel's ears started twitching and he waved his arms at Fluttershy and ran over to Sarah.

"Leave me alone please..." Sarah said moving around Angel to be blocked by him again, his arms waving nose twitching, and pointing at the moon and forest.

"What are you trying to say Angel?" Fluttershy asked coming up. 

After five minutes of nose twitches, pointing, squeaks, hops of rage when Fluttershy didn't under stand him, and a few gasps from Fluttershy, Angel finally laying flat with exhaustion was gently picked up by Fluttershy who wore a worried look on her face.

"Well," Applejack asked biting into one of the apples "What he tell you Shy?"

"Ni.. Nightmare Moon..." Fluttershy said looking scared. "Nightmare Moon has your friend," she looked at Sarah, as Applejack spat out her apple and Pinkie gave one of her exaggerated gasps.

"Where are they?" Sarah asked looking at all three mares. 

"Some... Somewhere in there..." Fluttershy pointed to the Everfree Forest where the trees all looked dead.

As  Sarah made to the forest, Applejack ran in front of her understanding in her eyes. "I get the feeling you want to go help him Sugarcube. But I think you might want to meet Twilight before you go into that there forest."

"Why? I know where he is... Sort of," Sarah cried "Why can't I just go in there and help my friend so we can get home?"

"Because you don't know where he is, the creatures that live in there, or your way though it." Applejack listed the flaws in Sarah's plan. 

Thinking that she was right,  Sarah stepped back "Fine, lets go to see Twilight." she said looking longingly at the trees, not seeing a small blue smoke cloud as they left the farm to visit the library and meet this Twilight.

"That must be that boy's 'princess...'" it said to it's self getting stronger by the minute thanks to the eclipse she made.
> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Sarah and the mares got to the Golden Oaks Library, a giant oak tree off a bit from the town square, they heard ponies talking in there and slowly knocked on the door.

The bottom half of the double door opened and Spike came out.

"Yes?" he asked "Oh hey every-pony," he said seeing it was his friends then seeing Sarah suddenly got the feelings he had for Rarity, the most beautiful pony alive in his eyes. "He... Hello," he said sticking out his claw, "I'm Spike." he said smiling.

"Hello Spike," Sarah said smiling at how cute this little dragon was. "I'm Sarah, Applejack said I should meet 'Twilight' before I went to help my friend..." she said not sure how much to tell him.

"Who?" Spike asked dreamily floating in the air hearts in his eyes. 

"Is he alright?" Sarah asked Applejack poking Spike gently a little.

"He just gets this way around new pretty girls," Applejack said then biting on his tail a bit to bring him back to his senses said, "So can we come in Spike?"

"What..." Spike asked massaging his tail "Oh yeah." he said going back in and undoing the top half of the door then running upstairs to find Twilight.

"Hey Weirdo," a familiar voice said "Long time no see," it said as they let themselves in.

Up in the air Rainbow Dash was looking at the small group that came in to the library.

For the first time that Sarah could remember, she didn't call back to the givers line. Instead, she just ignored the pony floating above her head and got out the paint brush to look at it again.

Hoof steps could be heard coming down the stairs and Sarah saw a purple Unicorn horn glowing books floating around her, and Spike on her back, come to the main part of the library.

"Hello every-pony" she said not putting the books down, and going over to her telescope to look at the eclipse again taking notes.

"Very friendly friends Pinkie," Sarah said putting the paint brush away trying to find the pink pony in question.

"She's just fussy about stuff like this Sugarcube," Applejack said putting a hoof on her arm. "Once she even got all of Ponyville running after her childhood doll for fear of a tardy on a weekly report."

"Seriously?" Sarah asked feeling a bit better.

"And another time," Pinkie said somehow poking her head out of the chimney, "She wanted to find out what her birthday present was so bad we had to sneak into the Canterlot Archives for a time traveling spell."

"It was not for my birthday present Pinkie," Twilight said taking more notes. "I was visited by my future self, who tried to tell me not to waist my time studying and worrying on things, but I kept interrupting myself, so all that week, I was worried that something bad would happen."

"Well something bad might happen if you don't put those books down and help me Bookworm," Sarah said crossing her arms.

Turning around Twilight saw someone else was in there with them. "Oh... Sorry," she said putting down the books and making her way over to meet the 'new girl'. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I..."

"I got that far thanks," Sarah said butting in. "The only reason I'm here is because Applejack said I should see you before going into the forest to find my friend, who according to Fluttershy's rabbit, was taking by Nightmare Moon."

Silence rang tough the library after that. It wasn't a nice, please be quiet silence. It was the kind of silence, that came in all those monster movies Sarah liked to watch when her parents were out late, building the tension just before the 'climax'.

"So now that I met you," she said curtsying to all five mare and the dragon. "I think I'll go rescue my Knight." and she left making her way back up to the hill to go into the forest.

As she left, the smoke cloud that was Nightmare Moon followed her to make sure she went down the right road to get to the Pony Sisters Castle.





Up in Canterlot, Luna was trying with all her might to lower the moon, but nothing was working. Giving up, she went back inside and knocked on Celesia's door before letting herself in.

"Sister, I don't understand, I can't control the moon," Luna said "I've tried countless times, but she wont move." 

As Celestia was about to  reply a rolled up  scroll appeared in front of her, in a puff of green smoke.

"A note from Twilight?" Luna asked as Celestia read it out loud.

'Dear Princess Celestia and Luna, 

My friends and I have a feeling that this solar eclipse was not planned, and are a bit worried. 
We are writing to you to say we have met a Human girl, who says her friend was not with her when she woke up next to the Everfree Forest, and that Fluttershy's pet Angel told us that Nightmare Moon was the one who took him.

Is it possible that she might be causing this to happen? 

We await your quick response, 

From the Elements of Harmony.'

Before Luna could say anything, Celestia was already putting on her crown.

"Come Sister," she said slipping into her hoof guards as well. "We must go and see if we can help." 

With that the two sisters went out to the balcony, spread their wings, and flew straight to Ponyville.





As Sarah made it to the top of the hill she woke up on, she turned to look back at the town.

After a few minutes she crossed the border of the trees and was heading in a hopefully straight line to where ever this 'Nightmare Moon' was keeping Eric, so they could go home.

After about ten minutes, Sarah thought she heard a twig snap, and looked around to find who it was, but couldn't see anyone, so she pressed on.

But before she could get very far, she thought she could hear panting and the smell of a mix between rotten eggs and onion came up to her.

"Good grief," Sarah said taking out one of her scented handkerchiefs, bringing it up to her nose. "What the hell is that... What in the world is THAT..." 

Out of the trees came three living wooden things. 'They look like wolves' Sarah thought her eyes still on them, and their glowing green eyes. She was starring at them for so long Sarah had not realized that these things had cut off all the paths and were seemingly getting closer as they circled around her.

Suddenly Sarah got an idea, if they were made of wood, then they'd be scared of fire. Quickly she got out her lighter, picked up a fallen branch, lit it and started waving it at the beasts.

At first it seemed to have worked, the wolves were backing off. Slowly Sarah moved to one of the paths, keeping her eyes on them just in case they got used to the flames, which unfortunately they were.

Before even five minutes were up, they began to tread towards to their prey again.

Worried, Sarah threw the branch to them and began to run as fast as she could, hearing the beasts following her.

Suddenly her foot caught something and she felt herself fall and land face first. Covering her neck and keeping her head down Sarah waited for them to get her, but... nothing happened. All she could hear was the wolves weeping and running away, hoof steps coming over to her.

"You have nothing to fear now my dear they are gone," a voice said calmly "Although coming in here by yourself, I'd say was wrong." 

Looking up Sarah saw a Zebra with a Mohawk wearing gold earrings, bands on her left fore leg and around her neck, holding a staff in her one of her hooves holding out the other one. 

"Thank you," Sarah said getting up. "What were they?" she asked.

"They were Timber Wolves my dear," the Zebra said "Just one of the beasts in this forest to fear. Where have my manners gone, I am Zecora, and you young one?" she asked.

"My names Sarah." Sarah replied continuing down the path.

"May I ask Sarah, why are you here, in the forest and Equestria?" Zecora asked following her so they could continue their conversation.

Sarah didn't think she liked Zecora very much... 'Though she did save me from those Timber Wolves.' she said to her self.

"I'm here in the forest looking for my friend Eric." Sarah began "I was er... told that someone called Nightmare Moon brought him in here. And we're in Equestria because of his Grandfathers' 'Magic Paint Brushes' sucking us into his painting of the 'Mare in the Moon'." she said getting the brush out for Zecora to look at.

Taking hold of the brush, Zecora looked at it carefully. 

"Such strong magic I can feel in these hairs and wood," Zecora said smiling "Hopefully in your hands it will be used for good." she said giving it back. "Now, do you have any plan, so you can find this young man?" she asked.

"Not really." Sarah said truthfully still walking on. "I think it's just keep going till I find him, and go from there."

"Then may I suggest, we take a rest. Then when we get to the Sisters old castle, there will be no hassle." 

"What castle?" Sarah asked trying to look for any sign of a castle in the forest.

"The castle of the Pony Sisters my dear," Zecora said placing her staff vertically on the ground and slowly turned upside down on it closing her eyes. "That is where Eric might be I fear." 

"Why, what's so bad about a dumb old castle?" Sarah said finding a safe place under one of the trees.

"It is not the castle, but the spirit of the Mare in the Moon you should fear," Zecora said not opening her eyes "I have felt her in this forest for many a year."

"What's so scary?" Sarah said "If she's a spirit, it's not like she can do anything that bad. You ponies are all wimps."

"If you think you can go on without me, be my guest," Zecora said getting a tad annoyed at this girls attitude "But that is not an option that I will suggest."  

Thinking of all the pros and cons, that would have, Sarah finally gave in sighing ending up with...

If she went, she would prove there was nothing to worry about. But she didn't know where the castle was. 

"I'm sorry," Sarah said taking a stick and drawing in the dirt. "It's just this is the first friend I every had back home, and I... I just don't want him to be hurt for some reason."

"Maybe it will worry you less," Zecora said "I you tell me a deeper story of how you got into this mess."

Seeing as they're weren't going anywhere anytime soon, Sarah began to tell Zecora how they got there, not seeing a blue smoke cloud hiding in the trees listening in.
> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the dungeons of the castle of the two Pony Sisters, Eric was pacing around trying to think of ways to get out so he could find Sarah and they could go home. 

When nothing came he yelled in frustration and hit the bars looking out into the corridor though them. "Could have given me a bit more heads up on those paint brushes Granddad." he said sighing. "Who is this Nightmare Moon any way?" he asked with no one in mind. 

Then surprised at seeing a set of keys arms length away from the door, Eric reached out for them grabbing them and looking for the one for the door of his cell.

"I hope these work," he said finding the right one.

With a bit of elbow grease and a click, the door opened it's hinges squeaking loudly.

"Ha, you can't keep a knight from his princess," He said smiling. 

"But you also can't keep a princess away from her night, Whelp," a voice said Eric feeling himself being thrown back air being knocked out of him as he hit the wall. "Especially when she's Princess of it." Nightmare Moon said stepping out of the shadows again, slightly darker looking more solid, showing her fangs at Eric her magic closing and re-locking the door.

"What do you want Moony?" Eric said rubbing the back of his head getting up.

"To tell you I found your 'princess'. Oh and there's no need to answer my questions any more, I got it all from her... Eric."

"How, I know for a fact she wouldn't say anything to you." Eric said glaring at Nightmare Moon. 

"Who said she told me?" 

"You know it's not very princessy to listen in to others conversations." Eric said narrowing his eyes at her.

"Nor is very knightly to insult or talk back to a princess." Nightmare Moon said firing another shot at him to make him shut up, before disappearing back into the shadows.

"Great job Sarah," Eric said hoping she was alright. But worried on how long that would last, because by the sound of it Nightmare Moon was not the type girl to get angry.





In Ponyville, Rarity was answering to her 'Pinkie-gram' and was making her way over to the library a bit worry-sum of the eclipse that was still going on.

When she got there the first thing she saw was...

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna," she said bowing a bit fussed that she wasn't here to meet them as they arrived. "I'm sorry I was not here when you arrived your highness's, I... I..."

"That's quite alright Rarity, and please, we are not strangers," Celestia said smiling at the Unicorn nodding but still having a hint of fear in her eyes.

"Now girls," Luna said, "What's this about a 'Human Girl' and her friend."

Rainbow started off. 

"Around noon I saw a human girl at the base of the hill next to the Everfree forest, then the eclipse happened, and I came over to Twilight's to see what's going on. All I got out of her was her names 'Sarah', and she had somepony with her."

Pinkie was next.

"Then my Pinkie Scene was telling me there was somepony new in town and I found her in the market place. And she agreed to let me show her my friends."

Applejack...

"So they came to Sweet Apple Acres and we got to talking about who you are," she said to the princesses "And she told us this boy had a dream about the Mare in the Moon, and his Grandfather used to paint midnight landscapes of the stars moving towards it. There was also something about 'magic paint brushes'..." she said rubbing her hoof on her chin thinking.

"Um... Then I met her after my animals ran to the farm." Fluttershy said "And Angel told us that the animals saw Nightmare Moon with her friend going into the forest."

"Then I convinced her to come see Twilight before she went off to find him," Applejack continued. 

"She did and then said that since she had seen Twi, she can go into the forest now and 'Rescue her Knight' and has been gone ever since." Pinkie said in her bouncy voice.

"What do you mean by magic paint brushes Applejack?" Celestia asked attracting every-pony's attention.

"She said that this boys grandfather hid in his paintings the message 'Magic Paint Brushes' but that's all she said." Applejack said.

"Do you know anything of this sister?" Luna said.

"I'm afraid not," Celestia said. "But if there the reason Sarah and her friend are here, they must be very powerful, and must not fall into Nightmare Moon's hooves."

"Shouldn't we go into the forest to see if she's alright and help her find this guy?" Spike asked still on Twilight's back.

As the girls (and Spike) were about to leave Luna said to them "Remember Nightmare Moon grows stronger the longer the land is in darkness. You need to find her and destroy her as fast as you can."

"We will," Twilight said finishing placing the Elements of Harmony on the right ponies, before they took off for the forest.





In the forest Zecora was leading Sarah to the old castle. The were about to enter a bit of the forest where the trees were even thicker than before blocking out what ever light there was when...

'ROAR'...

Sarah spun around as fast as she could searching for what ever made that sound.

There was something in the forest, something big, coming towards them. Out of the trees running came a Manticore, it's scorpion tail swinging all over the place  wings spread wide.

Ducking it's tail Sarah quickly asked "How do we get past?" dodging a swipe from one of it's paws looking around for Zecora.

"You'll need to calm it down," Zecora's voice said a few feet away from the fight. "Show some kindness to make him smile and not frown." 

"You're worse than my parents," Sarah said turning her attention to the Manticore noticing it was only swinging at her with it's right paw. But as she edged closer to try and see it better, she got swiped at again. 

"I'm trying to help you you monster!" Sarah cried lying on the ground the Manticore over her.

"Remember Sarah, kindness. Do that and you can not miss." Zecora said feeling the main six's presence behind the rock over looking the scene.

"It's a bit hard to be kind when he's attacking me Zecora!" she yelled eyes turning back to the Manticore.

"Ok, I'm trying to help here alright?" she asked it looking into his eyes, not moving off of them.

Slowly the Manticore backed off and let her get up. "That's better," she said getting to her knees reaching her hand out "Now lets have a look at that paw of yours..." 

The Manticore turned his left paw over to revel... "Nothing?" Sarah asked gently taking the paw to look at it more closely. Then she saw it, a tiny bit of wood under the skin of the palm, almost like a splinter in the middle of the paw. "That's it! That's what all this fuss was about?" Sarah asked looking up at the Manticore pain in his eyes as he nodded.

Sighing and rubbing her eyes Sarah turned and asked "Zecora, do you have any tweezers, or anything to pull this out with?"

"I'm afraid not, things like that are not needed in this land," Zecora said smiling "But maybe if you take the brush into your hand, that might help you, and your known tricks will go up to two." 

"How's this brush going to help get a splinter out of a Manticore's paw?" Sarah asked getting the brush out anyway.

All the sudden the brush started feeling warm in Sarah hand, and everything was getting bigger... 'Wait things don't just suddenly get bigger.' Sarah thought looking at herself getting smaller and smaller, until she could stand the the Manticore's paw, and now the tiny bit of wood was like a big thorn.

Carefully Sarah went over to it and said in a voice only the Manticore could hear... "Ok now hold still, this might sting a little..." she wrapped her arms around the splinter and pulled it out, as fast as she could so it wouldn't hurt him that much. Once it was out a very loud roar came and Sarah began to fall from the paw and hit the ground. "Hey!" she said "I was still on there you know!" she said grabbing the paint brush and began to grow again until she was back to normal.

Once she was she was tackled by the Manticore again this time feeling his rough tongue on her face and go though her hair.

"Ok, ok you're welcome," Sarah said pinned down trying to get him off of her. After a while the Manticore roared it's goodbye's and flew off back into the forest.

"Good job Sarah, you've learnt a new trick," Zecora said coming up to her "Now with the ponies will you stick?" she said turning to the rock where the girls were hiding behind.

"You alright Sugarcube?" Applejack asked coming out smiling.

"A bit better now I'm not being attacked by a Manticore," Sarah said rubbing her arm. "Look I... I'm sorry for how... how I acted back at the library." she said looking at each of them.

"It's just, I've never been good at making friends, and meeting so many at once..." she cut herself off turning to the forest path they had to take. 

"Hey isn't that how you felt when you first came here Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asked hovering in the air.

"Yeah, it was. But after you all came with me in here to find the Elements, we became friends and I started becoming friends with everypony in town." Twilight said smiling.

"I don't mean to stop this talk, but maybe it can carry on as we walk?" Zecora suggested taking the lead of the group so they could reach the castle. 

So a Zebra, a baby dragon, six mares, and a human girl all headed off deeper into the forest to find the castle and hopefully Eric.


*^*



They kept walking until they reached a river, all the time Spike was asking Sarah questions about this 'Knight Eric' she was determined to rescue.

"Isn't it normally the knight's job to rescue the girl?" was the question he just asked.

"Who said...? Oh, he's not a real knight Spike," Sarah said smiling. "I just call him that as, you know... it's a bit like a nick-name. He's my knight, and I'm his princess."

"Why?"

"Well three days ago, when I went up to say hi to him and see what was wrong, the first thing he said was 'What do you want Princess.'" 

"Humph doesn't sound much of a gentle-colt," Rarity said coming up to hear the story.

"That's what I thought, but when he and his family came round for dinner the next night, he said sorry and said the reason he was like that, was because his granddad had just passed, and he was moving to a new house, a new school, and all that." Sarah continued. 

"So how did you find these brushes?" Twilight asked joining in the conversation.

"His grandfather left him all his arty stuff." Sarah began "One selection was a bunch of midnight landscapes, with the stars moving. On the back they had the dates ranging between the world wars, and letters setting up to 'magic paint brushes'. Then taking a closer look at the supplies, we found some of the brushes said... Made by L.d.V, in Rome, Italy." Sarah continued "And we think that L.d.V. was Leonardo da Vinci."

"Who?" every pony cried.

"And what do you mean by world wars?" Spike asked.

"Leonardo da Vinci was a very famous painter, inventor, scientist, and some other stuff, a long time ago in our world." Sarah said "And the world wars were when well, the world went to war it everyone against Germany, but I don't know that much about it. Only that they were from 1914 to 1918, then another from 1939 to 1945."

They had just reached the river and were about to cross it when loud thuds could be heard  coming up behind them, as they turned to see what it was they all froze. 

Coming out of the forest was an User Minor, looking around it's self as if it was lost.  

"That's a big bear..." Sarah said not taking her eyes off of the User in question.

"That's actually a cub, an User Minor." Twilight said slowly stepping forward, "And it looks lost."

"Well we can't really do anything can we?" Rainbow asked. "As soon as we get near it it will try and attack us."

"But we can't just leave it here," Sarah protested walking towards it. "What if those 'Timber Wolves' come."

"Er... do your eye work? Look at it, if it wants to it can snap them like twigs." Rainbow said.

At that moment the User Minor roared to the sky, a slight whine in it's voice, and collapsed to the ground when nothing answered.

"For once I agree with Rainbow Dash, my dear." Rarity said staying as far away from the User as she could. "The best thing to do is to leave it be. It's parents will find it eventually." 

But Sarah kept going over to the User, slowly so not to scare it.

"I wonder how long it's been lost?" Sarah said getting to her knees at reaching out her hand for the bear to smell, hoping the User's were the same as dogs.

"Normally when creatures don't wear a smile," Zecora said looking at the User Minor "It is quite a while."

As Sarah petted the User an idea came into her head Sarah turned and asked, "Do you still have that cupcake Pinkie?" 

"Of course I do," Pinkie said sticking a hoof into her mane, "I always carry cupcakes around." she said beaming "What flavor would you like?" 

'Mummy...' 

"What?" Sarah asked turning to the User tears in it's eyes.

"Something wrong Sarah?" Pinkie asked holding out a plate of cupcakes still waiting for an answer.

"Did... Didn't any of you hear that?" Sarah asked looking around at the ponies.

'I want mummy...' 

"What about then?" Sarah asked again.

"I think you've just learnt trick number three..." Zecora said tilting her head. "Any animal you did touch can talk to thee."

"Where did  you last see her?" Sarah asked the User looking around "We'll help you find her."

'You promise?' 

"I promise," Sarah said smiling.

The User Minor got to it's feet and started walking back into the forest.

"Well... Come on." Sarah said following the User down the path it was just on.

One by one the ponies followed all looking at each other thinking that this was a very bad idea.


*^*


After a while they all stopped at an open topped clearing and the User Miner roared again. 

'MUMMY!' 

After a moment of silence, the User started sucking it's thumb as it sat down.

After everyone was sure that the mother wasn't there...

"Well we tried," Rainbow said heading out again.

"We're not giving up you multicolored sissy." Sarah said as she went over to the User to see if it was alright.

"Wha... What did you just call me?" Rainbow said spinning around and scraping her hoof against the ground.

"A sissy," Sarah said "You know, a wimp, a coward, a chicken.... Take your pick. But I'm not leaving him until we find his mother."

'What if Mummy no find me?' the User asked looking at Sarah by his side. 

"She will," Sarah said looking into the User's eyes "When a mum loses her child she'll do anything to find them again. And when there in danger, they'll drop everything to help them."

'Me no like the loud pony,' the User said looking at Rainbow showing it's teeth.

"Why's it looking at me like that?" Rainbow said in her loud slightly lower than the Royal Canterlot Voice speech.

"He says he doesn't like you because you're too loud." Sarah said glaring at her. "And I think I agree with him. Don't you come with a mute button?"

Everypony except Zecora gasped as she said that line.

"Ok listen here Weirdo," Rainbow said hovering so she was looking down on Sarah "The only reason I'm here is because I'm one of the Elements of Harmony, who took down Nightmare Moon when she returned a few years ago." she said pointing to her necklace.

"And what one were you?" Sarah asked having no idea what these Elements are.

"Loyalty." Rainbow said "Applejack's Honesty, Fluttershy's Kindness, Pinkie's Laughter, Rarity is Generosity, and Twilight's Magic."

"Oh and leaving this poor little cub all alone in the woods, was being loyal to it?" Sarah said crossing her arms raising an eyebrow at the Pegasus in question. 

Before Rainbow could answer a loud roar came from somewhere ahead of them.

'Mummy!' the User Minor cried and started running off towards the noise.

"Where's he going?" Pinkie asked a box of pop corn mysteriously held in her hoof.

Sarah didn't say anything and just followed the User Minor.


Some running later Sarah stopped in front of a giant pink naked mole-rat looking thing, cradling the User Minor in it's arms.

Sensing someone was there the User Major looked down and held the Minor away like a mother would to her baby from new dangers.

'No mummy she helped me' The Minor said squirming in her arms trying to get down. 

"Nice... Nice to meet you..." Sarah said trying not to be afraid as the Major lent forward and sniffed her hair. Then growled something.

'I don't know mummy,' the Minor said 'But the pink pony said Sarah to her.

"Er..." Sarah said looking from the baby and it's mother.

'Mummy's asking how you can hear me, and who you are,' the Minor said.

Before Sarah could answer the ponies came up behind her all asking if she was alright then catching sight of the User Major. Zecora and Twilight were the only ones not to be surprised at it.

Then Sarah got back to the questions. "My name is Sarah," she said her eye on the Major "And all I can say is magic is how I can talk to your baby..." 

The Major was now looking over all the ponies and the little dragon who was shaking in fear behind Twilight. 

After a while she got up and walked away, heading into the forest. 

'Thank you Sarah!' the Minor said following it's mother waving goodbye to everyone.

"You're welcome," Sarah waved after the User's happily. 

"I am sure I did just see," Zecora said "A hint of generosity and a sprinkle of loyalty." 

"Huh?" Sarah said walking over to the ponies confused.

"Zecora's right Sarah," Twilight said thinking. "Helping the User Minor you showed loyalty by staying with it, and generosity by helping it in the first place."

"Yeah well," Sarah said rubbing her arm "Can... Can we just get to that castle."  and she headed back down the path being watched by Nightmare Moon's smoke cloud who watched the whole thing, all the while learning about how this 'princess' ticked.





They all walked in silence as they crossed the river and continued towards the castle.

When they reached the rope bridge...

"That looks more rickety  than I remember," Applejack said eying the bridge carefully.

"I suggest going one by one." Zecora said "It's slower, but it will get the job done."

"I nominate Sarah to go first," Rainbow said shoving Sarah to the front. "You know since it's her friend and all." she added when she got looks from all her friends.

"Coward," Sarah mumbled under her breath, taking her first step on the bridge.

When she was half way across, she turned and said. "It's fine. Come on." and carried on not really caring if they were following or not, or noticing a strange fog rolling in.
> Chapter 7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After Sarah was on the other side she took a look at the castle in front of her.

"Wonder where my knight is then..." she said out loud smiling.

"Why in the dungeon of course...." an unknown voice behind her said making her jump.

"Who... Who's there?" Sarah said looking around trying to show she wasn't afraid. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Well Princess Sarah," Nightmare Moon said coming out of the shadows "You should be..."

"You're this Nightmare Moon then? What have you done with my friend?" 

"Like I said," Nightmare Moon answered fangs showing "He's in the dungeon. But since you're a princess...." 

A bright flash came from Nightmare's horn blinding Sarah for a few seconds.

"You get to stay in the tower. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some meddling ponies to take care of." she said turning into smoke and vanishing into the shadows. 





Back at the bridge, every-pony had just finished crossing it and were looking around for Sarah.

"She probably went on ahead," Twilight said walking to the doors. 

"So why are the doors shut then Twilight?" Spike said on her back looking up at the castle.

"Er..."

Suddenly there was midnight blue smoke swirling all around them then Nightmare Moon's voice was heard. 

"Ah if it isn't the Elements of Harmony," it said. Then seeing Spike and Zecora added "And some friends I see." 

Every-pony was looking around trying to find Nightmare Moon. When she was not found however Twilight just called out...

"What have you done with our friends Nightmare Moon?" 

"Friends? Friends?" the voice spoke out. "My dear Twilight it didn't look like you were friends with that 'Princess'. And her Knight has been here since they trespassed into my land."

All at once the smoke stopped and in front of the ponies stood a very solid looking Nightmare Moon wings spread, her eyes on the Element of Magic. 

"So how could you possibly be friends with him?"

Spike, being baby dragon, who got scared of things like this, was clinging tightly to Twilight's legs again eyes on Nightmare Moon, as the main six took up their fighting poses all eyes on the dark Alicorn in front of them.

"Just because we haven't met, does not mean we are not friends, Nightmare Moon." Twilight said trying to ignore the pain Spike's claws were giving her. "So tell us... What have you done to them?" 

"Is that any way to talk to your Princess?" Nightmare Moon said looking Twilight straight in the eye. 

"You never were, nor shall ever be our Princess." Twilight said back, getting nods of agreement from the others. 

"Apologize, at once" Nightmare Moon said looking at the group. "All of you."

"No." the main six said - Spike being too scared, Zecora knowing this wasn't her fight.

"I'll give you all, to the count of Three." Nightmare Moon said standing up to her full height looking down on these ponies. "One..." the still stood firm. "Two..." Nightmare Moon continued closing her eyes and the winds picked up and the blue smoke spun around the ponies again in a tighter circle. "Three." 

Nightmare Moon screamed opening her now completely white eyes her smoke cloud spinning so fast it looked like a blue Cathrine-wheel keeping the ponies from moving and activating the Elements. 

Suddenly they all felt themselves leave the ground and fall onto cold cell room flooring rubbing bruises and seeing Nightmare Moon on the other side of the door looking at them her fangs bared. 

"You may come out, when you learn to be loving subjects." she said before slinking back into the shadows.

"That could have gone better." Rainbow Dash said looking around to see where they were.

"It could also of been worse," Zecora said picking up her staff. "So lets thank her for giving us a blessing and not a curse"

"Guess you're right Zecora," Applejack said placing her hat back on her head turning to Twilight. "So Twi... Where are we?"

"You're in the dungeons Orange," a boy's voice said from the cell across from them making everyone spin around. "Would of thought that was obvious."

"First off you lazy son of a Timber-wolf, I'm an Apple." Applejack said getting as close as she could to the boy. "The Oranges are my stuck-up aunt and uncle who live in Manehattan. Second I wasn't talking to you."

"So," the boy said playing with a paper ball lying on the stone bed and throwing it up only to catch it again. "Haven't you or anyone else in that little group answer to a question that was not theirs?" 

"Who in Tartars are you Buster?" Rainbow Dash asked standing next to her frozen in thought friend.

"Humph... Is that any way to say hello to someone Cloud-butt?" he said smiling at how this annoyed the pony in question, getting up and walking to his cell door, seeing the two toned pink pony had a box of popcorn in her hoof, while the others, apart from the Zebra, were all starring shocked at him.

"Is that, Weirdo?" Rainbow returned flaring her wings in annoyance.

"Hey, I'm only trying to buy time before Nightmare Moon comes and destroys us." the boy said holding up his hands and smirking a little.

"By insulting us?" Twilight asked raising an eye brow.

"Hey that's how I say 'hello'." the boy said turning his back on the ponies (and Dragon) and returning back to his 'bed'. "Especially if I'm upset or worried about things." he said looking up at the ceiling sighing.

"Erm... Are you Eric then... Sir" a small timid voice asked sounding loud against the quiet and stillness of the dungeon.

Not even caring or turning to check which on is was, the boy answered the voice.

"Yes. Yes I am."
> Chapter 8
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Up in the tower, Sarah had just woken up rubbing her head and looking around.

Seeing the midnight blue and black color spree of the walls, confused her to start with.

'This isn't my room...'

She thought. Then it all came back, the painting of the Mare in the Moon, the ponies, the Timber-wolves, the Manticore, the Ursa Minor, the bridge, and finally Nightmare Moon.

Checking that she still had the paintbrush with her, Sarah began looking for a way to get out of this tower and find her friends. At first she thought of the window, but then remembered that 'princesses' were normally kept in the highest rooms so the knights would have to work hard to get to them.

She spun around and rushed to the door, pulling as hard as she could on the ring only to find it was locked. Starting to panic a bit, Sarah took out the paintbrush again and looked at it, as though it would give her some ideas as to get out of there.

But nothing came.

Going over to the window again, Sarah looked out to the forest and to the sky where the eclipse was still at work. 

"Well," Sarah said to herself thinking of all the fairy tales with lock away princesses, "At least I haven't got anything guarding my tower." she said with a small smile. 

As if waiting for that line, out of the trees came a green dragon smoke coming out of it's nose, looking annoyed searching all around.

"Oh come on!" Sarah screamed to the sky.

Hearing a noise above him the dragon looked up an saw a pony he never saw before. It stood up on it's back legs, is fore ones waving around with things on the end of them, it's mane covered it's face, but he could see that it's face looked nothing like any of the ponies it had seen before, and it was covering up her fur with fabric that went all around her.

Giving up his search for that small purple and green dragon that took his gems away from him, only to be saved by a purple Unicorn and owl, the green dragon spread it's wings and flew up to hover right outside of the window this strange pony was in.

Gulping, Sarah backed up a bit when she saw the dragon open his wings and start to fly up to her room.

"What kind of pony are you? And what are you doing here?" the dragon said once he was hovering outside the window.

Not sure what to do Sarah went with the truth.

"I'm not a pony." Sarah said trying to be brave. "I'm a girl. And I'm here because Nightmare Moon took my friend, and so I came to get him back, but then she put me in this tower, and I have no way out."

Seeing the jewels this 'Girl' had on the ring on it's head and on her ears, the dragon said.

"I can get you out  of the tower in exchange of your jewels." he said eyes on Sarah's headband and earrings. 

Thinking of the deal for a bit, Sarah took out her earrings and ripped of her headband, and climbed up onto the window sill and jumped onto the dragons back and held on as he descended back to the ground.

After Sarah got off, the dragon looked at her. "How did you know you could trust me?" he asked getting a better look at the 'Girl' now.

"I didn't," Sarah said looking up to look the dragon in the eye. "But I thought since I was honest with you, you would be with me." she said holding out her headband and earrings. "Thank you."

Taking them, the dragon opened his scales a bit, and placed them safely in there. 

"My names Sarah." Sarah said curtsying a bit as the dragon turned back to her. 

"They call me Verde." the dragon said bowing to her, forgetting about the small purple dragon. "May I help you further with rescuing your friend from Nightmare Moon, Sarah?" he asked sensing she was telling the truth about the Mare in the Moon.

"You don't have to do that Verde," Sarah said blushing a bit slightly scared that a full grown dragon was talking to her like he had been one of her friends for years.

"I insist," Verde said bowing again. "You see... When I was a hatchling, the Mare in the Moon came to my home land and bought with her anger, fear, cold and darkness. I was sent into the forest by my parents to stay safe from the other dragons. Because of her, I grew up with no parents and lived my life alone. If she's back, Sarah, I'd like to avenge my parents and my herd."

Not knowing what to say, Sarah smiled an I-understand-completely smile and nodded. Then turned and ran to the front of the castle Verde close behind.





In the dungeons, Eric had opened up a bit and had learnt the ponies names... Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Zecora and that the dragon was called Spike.

He learnt that the six colorful ones, were something called the 'Elements of Harmony' and who exactly Nightmare Moon really was.

"So if she was defeated twice, even though it's around one thousand years apart, why is she still here?" Eric asked.

"We don't know," Twilight said "But what we do know, is the longer Equestria is in darkness, the stronger she becomes."

"Better go and stop her as soon as you can then." Eric said resting against the wall of his cell.

"Thanks for that," Rainbow said rolling her eyes "But in case you can't see we're all stuck in here, with no way out." Rainbow said a bit touchier than usual everyone but Fluttershy (who was the only one who knew Rainbow didn't like inclosed spaces) thought.

"That's a dragon in there with you isn't it?" Eric said nodding to Spike. "Couldn't he just melt the bars or something. And I thought you Twilight, was suppose to the Princesses student. Surly she taught you how to get out of situations like this with your magic."

Everyone was silent as the ideas sunk in, and a smirk made it's way over Eric's face.

"Well, what are you waiting for," Eric said "Don't you have a place to save?" he said getting the paper ball out again and went back to his 'bed' to be a bit more safe from what they planned to do.

As if to answer, the dungeon was lit up with a bright green light and heat and Spike's flames attacked the bars of their cell making the melt away. As soon as they had cooled down, Rainbow Dash was the first one out looking for the way out. 

"Nightmare Moon usually goes down that way." Eric said nodding down the pitch black corridor telling them the way out.

As Rainbow was about to zoom off down it she felt a tug on her tail stopping her. 

"Aren't we forgetting someone Rainbow?" Applejack asked. 

Rainbow sighed and went over to Eric's cell and gave the lock her best buck. Now even though Rainbow was the best cloud clearer in all of Equestria, able to clear a sky in '10 seconds flat' they were soft and fluffy so she wasn't as good as Applejack at bucking hard things. Thankfully, the door and it's hinges were over a thousand years old, so it didn't need an Apple's buck to make it fall off itself. 

"Come on Pretty-boy," Rainbow said walking down the corridor. "Let's get you back to your princess." 

"She's not my princess Cloud-Butt," Eric said stepping out of his cell. "She's just the first friend I've ever had."

"It does not matter what the reasons are," Zecora said stopping Rainbow from attacking Eric "Let's just get you back to Sarah."

Without another word, and Spike on Twilight's back, the nine of them as quietly as they could went down the dark corridor relying on Spike and his eyes to tell them where to go. All hoping not to run into Nightmare Moon.








> Chapter 9
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Because Nightmare Moon was spreading darkness though out Equestria she did not know that her prisoners escaped.

She was having too much fun bringing the pony's deepest and most horrible nightmares to life, something she picked up from her cousin Sombra before he was banished to the Frozen North by her weak counter-part and her sister.

At the moment she was sending swarms of Parasprites though Filly-Delphia making them eat everything, food and object in their sights so nothing was left, making the ponies run screaming trying to get away from them.

"Ooh very good job Nightie," a voice said behind her along with a pop. "Filly-Delphia's never looked better if you asked me." 

"Discord?" Nightmare Moon asked not turning around. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in stone of something?"

"Why I've merely come to congratulate and welcome you on coming back." the Draconequus said appearing in front of her wearing a party hat a spinner in his eagle's talon, confetti flying out of his lion's paw right in her face.

"Leave me be Discord before I show you your worst fears." Nightmare Moon said her horn starting to glow.

"I'm not afraid of you Nightie." Discord said now taking pictures of all the chaos that was going on.

"Maybe not." Nightmare Moon said. "But you are afraid of something."

"You think so?"

"I know so. Even though Sombra was better at bringing the fears to life, most fears lie in nightmares. And being the Princess of the Night, I know everyone's nightmares." she finished eyes closed looking into Discords mind looking for his. "Even yours."

"Get out of my head Nightie." Discord said snapping his talons closing of his mind to her.

"I wonder which one to pick," Nightmare Moon said smiling and showing her fangs. "You going back to stone, you never being accepted by those wimpy ponies, or... That Fluttershy will never love you?"

Discord was never really good at hiding his feelings. So when Nightmare Moon said Fluttershy's name, he poofed up ten custard pie catapults and fired all of them at her, catching her by surprise.

"Hit something did I?" she asked after making a shield around herself. 

"Go back to your castle Nightie. I have a feeling you might want to check on your other knight." Discord said zapping out of assistance.

Thinking of going back anyway, Nightmare Moon spread her wings and flew back to the castle in the forest.





Back at the castle of the Two Pony Sisters, Sarah and Verde had just entered the great hall, and even though it was in a horrible state, Sarah looked at it in awe.

Ancient tapestry's hung on the walls, what was left of the stained glass windows looked amazing, and in the center of the room stood a pedestal that had five arms that looked like they were meant to be holding something.

Suddenly voices could be heard coming from the left hallway.

"We're nearly there everypony," one of them said "I feel it."

"Like you felt it the last five times Cloud-Butt?" another said.

"I told you not to call me that Weirdo!" the first voice yelled back anger in it's owner's voice.

Then out of the corridor came the mane six, Spike, Zecora, and...

"Eric!" Sarah screamed when seeing her friend was alright running up to him throwing herself in his arms holding on to him to never be separated again.

"Hey there Princess?" Eric said after recovering from the shock. "I take it you missed me?" he said smirking a bit more when Sarah realized what she had done and stepped away from him.

"No, I... I was just worried you'd be stuck here when this paint brush took me home and I'd get bombarded with 'where did he go's' and 'what happened to him's'" Sarah said jokingly, smiling as she handed him back his grand father's paintbrush "Besides I can handle myself. For your information I calmed down a Manticore to get a splinter out of it's paw, helped an Ursa Minor get back to it's mother, and jumped out of the window in the room in the tower I was in on to Verde's back when he was hovering outside it."

"Who?" all the ponies asked.

Sarah just nodded over to the green dragon who had his eyes on Spike who was hiding underneath Twilight for some reason. 

"What's wrong Spike?" Eric asked trying not to laugh.

"Once when he thought I was replacing him," Twilight said to the group looking Verde in the eye "Spike ran away and found a cave of gems and 'dove right in'."

"And that was MY cave and MY gems." Verde said smoke coming from his nose scaring Fluttershy a bit at how loud he was.

"Well did he say sorry? Or why he was there? Did you give him a chance to?" Sarah said thinking she knew where this was going.

Verde stepped back a bit mind going back to that night and how he reacted.

"I... I said I didn't know it was his cave or his gems," Spike said peeking out from under Twilight and looking up at Verde. "But I didn't get time to say why I was there..."

"You are right," Verde said opening his eyes calmed down a bit. "I presume, because I never had any-dragon to share with, when I found you in my cave, I thought you were taking them." 

"Well by the sound of it..." Eric began getting elbowed in the chest by Sarah telling him to shut up.

"Um... Excuse me... Verde," Fluttershy spoke up  from where she was on the ground "What do you mean you never had any-dragon to share things with? That is if you don't mind me, err us asking."

"I am sorry," Verde said looking away "But I do mind. I'm just here to help defeat the Mare in the Moon."

'And makes you think you can do that?' Nightmare Moon's voice rang out throughout the great hall as blue smoke clouds made their way into the hall and a very solid and very scary looking Nightmare Moon stood on top of the pedestal. 
> Chapter 10
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The bearers all took their fighting stands and all glared at the the black Alicorn trying to show no fear what so ever.

"You think you can stop me with you're little trinkets?" Nightmare Moon laughed. "Do you really think I have spent all these years since I came back only to lose again? No! A little each night I grew stronger, until I was able to block out Celestia's horrible sun and let my beautiful night be seen by all my subjects to enjoy. I am stronger than I have ever been, especially since my weaker self isn't with me to take half the power away." she said her ever flowing mane swirling above her head. "There is no one or anything you can do to stop me now." 

Suddenly Nightmare Moon's eyes went the brightest white as she shot at all of them with her power to show just how strong she was, making them all split up so's not to get hit.

"Well don't think I'm not one how hasn't dealt with bullies before either Nightmare Moon!"  Eric called out after he picked himself up. "I know a bully when I see one, and you are in my top ten of the worst bullies list!"

Everyone was starring at Eric as if he was speaking a different language, all with mouths open asking themselves 'What is he doing?'

"You think just because you're all strong and powerful, that you can bring peoples nightmares to life, and that you can control the bloody moon you can get to pick on us like this?"

"Eric what are you doing?" Sarah running over to him.

"I'm stalling her while the ponies get those necklaces working" Eric whispered eyes shifting to the group finally understanding what was going on.

"By making her angry by insulting her?" Sarah asked back.

"It's how I stood up to all the bullies I've ever met when I was younger."

"And how did they turn out?" Sarah asked folding her arms across her chest looking at him.

"Nearly everyone sent me to the nurses office." Eric confessed rubbing the back of his neck.

"ENOUGH!" Nightmare Moon's cry called out getting the two to bring their attention to her again.

"Once I'm done with you two trespassers to Equestia," Nightmare Moon said lighting now cracking above her head "You wont need to bother with bullies any more." 

And with that, she spread her wings charged her horn, aimed it and....

....Got  struck by a dragon's fire ball knocking her aim off to shoot down one of the support pillars that was still standing and singed her fur.

"You leave them alone Mare in the Moon," Verde said claws and tail showing off his deadly spikes with his anger, Spike by his side. "I shall not let you separate them like you did with me from my family long ago!" 

With that he shot another fire-blast at her melting the pedestal that she was still standing on slightly.

"Is that the only reason why you're protecting them, Dragon?" Nightmare Moon asked using her powerful wings to help pull herself out of the middle of the pedestal. "And since when have you cared about anypony other than yourself?"

"Since I made friends with them Mare in the Moon." Verde returned growling as he eyed her, anger burning in his eyes.

"Ha! Dragons can't become friends with ponies." 

"Anyone if given the chance, can become friends with anyone or thing," Zecora said now speaking up holding her staff tightly. "they can be the Yang to your Yin." 

All the sudden, a bright light started to shine behind Nightmare Moon as the mane six finally got their elements working and a rainbow started connecting everypony together swirling around Twilight until it reached her crown and they all opened their eyes to show bright white as the Beam of Harmony was shot at Nightmare Moon who shot a Beam of Darkness at it pushing it back towards the Bearers, shocking everyone in the room.

At last the Beam of Harmony backfired on the mane six knocking each of them out cold, some with smoking manes and tails.

"As I said," Nightmare Moon said showing her fangs laughing, "I am stronger than I have ever been. And once I have finished here, and defeated Luna and Celestia, I will take my place once again as Princess of the Night!" she said cackling madly her mane and tail swirling above her lightning flashing and wind howling.

"Well you'll forever be a block head bully in my eyes you witch!" Eric cried getting low to the ground so's not to be blown away.

"YOU DARE INSULT ME KNIGHT? YOU DARE INSULT THE PONY WHO JUST DESTROYED THE ONLY HOPE YOU HAVE ON STOPPING ME?" Nightmare Moon asked in the Royal Canterlot Voice turning to him.

"Yes!" Eric cried back standing in front of Sarah to try and protect her from Nightmare Moon's wrath.

"Besides Mare in the Moon, I think you're celebrating too soon," Zecora said from her place in the room "For there is one more who can be a Bearer. I am of course talking about Sarah."

"Wha... What?" Sarah asked shocked at hearing this looking between Zecora and Nightmare Moon. 

"Through this whole journey you have shown, that you hold all six elements not one on it's own," Zecora began. "You showed Kindness when helping the Manticore, Generosity and Loyalty by bringing the Ursa Minor to be with it's mother once more, Honesty it appears to me when Verde helped get you free, Laughter when you jokingly met back up with Eric, and by all these friends you have made it shows that you have always held the friendships Magic."

A bright light shone above Sarah's head blinding everyone as she felt herself be lifted up into the air a warm feeling inside her as the light surrounded her changing her school uniform into a dress with a rainbow striped skirt - wings growing out of her back, elbow length gloves coming over her hands, her hair coming from it's messy state was now pinned back showing her entire face a tiara now resting on her head, and her ordinary black school shoes turning into knee high boots. 

As she was set back down and the light dimmed, all that were still concussions stared at her and her change. 

Sarah couldn't believe what was happening, she looked like one of those Japanese Anime heroins in the after school shows she use to watch.

As she looked herself over, she saw a charm bracelet on her right wrist it's charms the same shapes as the Bearers necklaces and Twilight's crown.

Nightmare Moon was furious and as soon as she understood what was going on shot a beam of dark magic towards an unsuspecting Sarah.

"Sarah!" Eric cried bringing her back and saw the beam coming towards her holding up her hands to block it shooting a beam of light towards her opponent stopping the darkness from getting to her. Both sides cut off their magic saving their energy, Sarah looking at her hands wondering how she had just done that.

"I. Will. Not. Be. Defeated. AGAIN!" Nightmare Moon cried shaking the walls making some of them collapse as a result, before she charged towards Sarah in anger. 

Not knowing what to do Sarah jumped and was in the air flapping her wings doing mid air somersaults landing on her feet on the pedestal where Nightmare Moon once stood turning around to see her opponent anger flaring in the Alicorn's eyes. 

Not sure how bad things would get Sarah said to Eric the smartest thing that could of been said at that moment. "Get everyone out of here," she said turning her eyes back to Nightmare Moon "I'll take care of Nightmare Moon." 

Without further questions Eric, Zecora, Spike, and Verde gathered up the still unconscious mane six and left as fast as they could.  





Once they were outside and on the other side of the rope bridge just to be safe, Eric got up and started to make his way back across.

"Eric," Spike cried from where he was with the girls "Where are you going?"

Spinning around halfway across the bridge Eric answered "A Knight needs to protect his Princess doesn't he?" he said turning back and running the rest of the way back to the castle quickening his pace when a beam of magic shot though the roof and a cry was heard.

"BUT YOU'RE NOT A KNIGHT!" Spike cried out into the darkness as Eric left.

"It is true little Drake you are right," Zecora said coming up to be next to him "He is not a Knight make no mistake. But anyone with a heart as pure as his own, deserves to be one so the bravery within him can be shown."

Waiting a bit to get what Zecora said into his head, Spike returned with "But he doesn't even have a sword or... or armor, or anything!"

"You have forgotten that brush he has now in his hand, comes with a magic far from this land." she said going back to the girls to check up on them "I'm sure when the time is right, he'll get what he will need to be a knight."
> Chapter 11
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the great hall the fight was still going on, neither side showing forms of tiring out determination on their faces.

The last blast Nightmare Moon shot at Sarah sent her into the wall making her Beam of Harmony shoot though the roof making some bricks fall down with the power afterwards.

"Give it up Princess," Nightmare Moon said wings spread eyes on Sarah "You can not stop me! No one can! I will destroy you and then my night will last forever!"

"Enough with the boasting," Sarah said slowly getting up again because of the pain. "Why is it always 'Me' 'Me' 'Me' with you, and your night?" she asked. "Some people actually like the light of the day you know?"

Eric had just came back in not being noticed by either of them who only had eyes of hate for each other.

"And what's with all this 'destroy you' junk." Sarah asked now on her feet an arm clenched around her waist. "What are you part parrot or something? Because you're repeating yourself a lot." 

This comment getting her another blast of darkness shot at her, that Sarah was only just able to block.

Going back into the corridor Eric got out the magic paint brush and looked at it.

"Grandad, what ever you want me to do with this, please tell me now so I can save my friend." Eric told the brush holding it tight feeling it warm up in his hand.

All the sudden the brush in his hand glowed and turned into a sword gently tapping him on each shoulder ending with him now some how in a knight's form of Sarah's Harmony outfit, the chest plate showed a shield with a rainbow patten and six gems on it.

The sword now turning handle towards him waiting for him to take it and save his princess.

Hesitating a bit wondering if this was a good idea, Eric thought about how much he cared for Sarah. A sudden blast from the two 'princesses' in the hall brought him back and with out further delay he took the sword and ran into the room, just as Nightmare Moon was about to destroy Sarah.

"I told you no one can stop me!" Nightmare Moon said charging her horn to hit Sarah with one last blast.

"HEY MOONY!" Eric cried the sword in hand turning into a bow and arrow just skimming her to get her attention.

"Get away from my Princess." he said preparing to shoot again. 

"It's not very chivalrous for a knight to shoot his weapons at his princess Whelp," Nightmare Moon said turning her attention to him.

"Good thing you're not my princess then isn't it?" Eric said bow still armed and ready as he slowly made it over to Sarah.

"I will be after I destroy her, and Luna and Celestia."

"Wow you are part parrot," Eric said the bow and arrow turning into a shield to avoid Nightmare Moon's Beam of Darkness increased by anger. "Would you like a cracker or something?" He said as he came back out from behind the shield blocking both of them from Nightmare Moon.

"Eric?" a weak voice asked behind him.

"Sarah," he said reaching a hand behind him helping her up eyes still on the Alicorn.

"Nice outfit. Now you can be my Knight." Sarah said smiling but still holding her waist with pain.

"Well every Princess needs one." Eric said smiling.

"Not when they can fight for themselves," she said though her teeth.

"Yeah," Eric said "Don't think that's going very well do you?"

"ENOUGH!" Nightmare Moon cried. "I don't care who fights me, in the end I. Will. Defeat. You." and with that she charged at the two of them, Eric grabbing Sarah jumped out of the Mare in the Moons way and leading her to safety.

Up on the main balcony over looking the room Eric placed Sarah down and the shield turned back into the bow and arrow as he shot one after the other at the Alicorn, the third one piercing her wing letting out a cry that shook the walls and made the two of them cover their ears.

"Will you stop," Sarah asked "You're only making her angrier." she said as the cries stopped.

"So what? So she can 'destroy' us?" Eric said quoting Nightmare Moon's words.

"Besides, weren't you doing this when I came in?" Eric said picking Sarah up again as the jumped to the next balcony to avoid a beam from Nightmare Moon who now she couldn't fly was firing beam after beam at the two.

"Anyway, a knight needs to protect his princess." Eric said the bow and arrow turning back into a shield.

"But a princess needs to protect her people, including the block headed knights." Sarah said grinning still holding onto his hand feeling a warmth grow between them and the pain lessen.

"Ok, my lady," Eric said stepping away from the edge, the shield going back to a sword. "You can take the next shot." 

Down on the ground Nightmare Moon was laughing at what was going on.

"Nor is it very chivalrous for a knight to place his princess in danger." 

"Well I'm glad you finally worked out who I'm with Moony," Eric said "But I'm under orders to let her do this." 

When the two stopped Sarah held up her hands and fired a Beam of Harmony at Nightmare Moon stronger than anyone before, singeing her fur a bit but still not destroying her.

Sarah was on her knees panting checking if it worked.

"Sarah." Eric said using his sword to block a new beam shot by Nightmare Moon. "You alright?" he asked looking over his shoulder.

"I... I don't understand," Sarah said looking at her hands "That was the strongest beam I've done. How... How is she still standing?" she whispered bringing her hands to her chest and looking away in shame, tears in the corners of her eyes. 

After deflecting the beam Eric turned to Sarah. "Sometimes you can't do everything by yourself, Princess." he said turning her face to his so they could look into each others eyes.

"Sometimes, when you come to the end," Eric said wiping a tear away from Sarah's eye "What you need is a friend."

"Get that from Zecora?" Sarah said smiling her lips moving towards his.

"No. It was one of Grandad Sam's old sayings." Eric said moving towards her now. "When ever I was down he'd tell me that I was better straight away." 

They were an inch apart when Eric felt a pain like he never felt before hit him in the back, causing him to cry out and bend over in pain, tears rolling down his cheeks from clenched eyes.

"ERIC!" Sarah cried shocked turning him over. 

Down on the ground Nightmare Moon was blowing at her horn, like a cowboy would do to his pistils in those old western movies.

"That's what you get for having your back turned to me Knight." she said enjoying the pain that was coming off of the two up on the balcony.

"How dare you?" Sarah said anger towards the Mare in the Moon in her heart. "How DARE you! We weren't even paying attention, how dare you fire at us?"

"Do you think I really care about fairness in these fights 'Sarah'?" Nightmare Moon asked. "If you're shot by me because you weren't paying attention, it's your own fault."

"But don't worry my dear," she continued "A ugh... 'Beam of Harmony' that uses all your power will make him better, but if you want to save him I suggest you don't delay. Of course that's the only thing that can stop me as well." she said just as Sarah was about to save Eric.

"So what will it be? Me or your precious Eric? Make your choice little girl."

Sarah didn't know what to do. If she saved Eric, then he'd be alright and they can continue being friends but Nightmare Moon would still be at large terrorizing this place and go after Luna and Celestia. 

But if she destroyed Nightmare Moon she'd save this place, but lose her friend. 

Looking at her hands Sarah thought about what Eric had just said: "Sometimes, when you come to the end. What you need is a friend'."

Not knowing what that meant but knowing she'd never leave Eric again, Sarah took hold of his hand and looked up to Nightmare Moon.

"Go destroy this world Moony," she said anger in her eye "I choose Eric." She said standing up holding out her hands and aimed at his chest.

"No Sarah," Eric said though clenched teeth. "You have to stop her."

"But I can't let you die..." Sarah said back on her knees holding his hand again.

"But, if you do this then everyone here will die."

"I'm sorry" Sarah said getting back up. 

"Sarah wait..." Eric said bringing her closer to him until their lips were together, and they both felt a warmth that neither felt before come over them, a light shining off them making the whole room light up as if the sun was in the room. Suddenly a rainbow fired out from them arching above their heads shooting towards Nightmare Moon, making her cry out as it hit her until there was nothing left but the echoes of her screams.
> Chapter 12
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Outside the main six were just coming around and were about to ask what was going on, when the moon started moving away from the sun and the light shone on the castle again.

"TWILIGHT!" Spike cried running up to his pony-big-sister-figure and wrapping his small arms around her tightly. 

Suddenly the winds picked up telling everyone a transporting spell was being made. A little away from everyone the two Princesses of Equestria were standing there looking slightly confused as they saw the girls here but sensed Nightmare Moon get destroyed in the castle.

"Princess" the main six cried all getting up and bowing to their princesses.

"How can this be?" Luna said first. "We sensed that Nightmare Moon was destroyed in the castle. But if the bearers are out here..."

"You forget my night princess," Zecora said upside down on her staff meditating "There are still two that need to be addressed. I am of course speaking of Sarah and Eric Your Highness, it was they who solved this mess." 

"And where are they now?" Celestia asked looking around the group.

"Where they are said to be by Luna," Zecora said getting down "Although I fear Eric may be holding quite a scar."

All worried the seven ponies, the two princesses and the two dragons made their way back into the castle.





Inside Sarah and Eric had just pulled apart from their kiss not noticing the light coming into the room only looking into each others eyes neither noticing their pains were gone either.

"Wow" they both said helping each other up and jumping down to the ground as everyone came in.

"Whoa! What happened to you weirdo's?" was the first thing Rainbow Dash said.

"RAINBOW!" the rest of her friends said shocked that that would be the first thing she had to say.

"What? Look at them," she protested.

Only then did Sarah and Eric notice they were still in their 'Harmony Outfits', Eric's sword in his left hand while his right held Sarah's as they looked at the ponies and dragons.

"You must be Sarah and Eric," the tall white Alicorn said coming over with a smaller midnight blue one next to her, both wearing crowns.

"Err... yes?" Sarah said tightening her hold on Eric's hand.

"Please there's no need to be afraid. In fact we are here to thank you." she said smiling gently. 

"We are the princesses of Equestria," the younger looking one said looking a bit nervous at being in the castle for some reason. "I am Luna, and this is my sister Celestia." she explained.

Feeling it would be right Eric bowed while Sarah curtsied as it was royalty they were facing.

"Please, there is no need for that," Celestia said "We should be the ones bowing to you for ridding us of Nightmare Moon." she said as the two bowed to them along with the other ponies even Spike and Verde bowed to them all of them wearing big smiles on their faces.

As everyone came back up Pinkie rushed to them, starting bouncing around them and said "I knew you two were Special-Someponies." 

Realizing that each other were still holding hands, Eric and Sarah shook each other off and turned blushing a bit.

Pinkie was still bouncing around the two of them singing a love song that only made the two of them feel more embarrassed.

"Err... Pinkie how about we have a party to celebrate everything being alright again?" Applejack said getting Pinkie's attention away from the two she was embarrassing.

"Great idea AJ," Pinkie said fishing her party planning planer out of her mane and started planning the worlds biggest party to celebrate this event. 

Leaving Pinkie to her work Eric and Sarah turned to the rest of the ponies.

"Um... not to upset Pinkie or anything," Sarah said looking over at the two toned pink pony in the corner of the room "But we'd really need to be getting back home." 

Nodding in understanding Celestia asked to see the sword that Eric held in his hand.

Touching it with her horn, and telling Luna to do the same after she stepped away, said "My magic will send to back to where and when you came to our world. All you have to do is both grasp it by the handle and swipe it though the air."

"And my magic will bring you back here when ever you want, but our time will keep going even when you are gone. All you will need to do is both hold the brush, and both think of Equestria and all the friends you both have made here." she said as she stepped back from them as well.

"Thank you," Sarah said smiling again "All of you." she said giving them all one more curtsy before grabbing hold of the sword's handle with Eric smiling as much as her. "Ready?"

"Whenever you are Princess..." Eric said giving her the lead to raise the sword and swipe it though the air.

As the wind picked up Pinkie looked up from her party planning and saw Sarah and Eric jump into the portal.

"WAIT!!!" she cried running over to her friends, hair deflating as it closed. "Where did they go?" she asked, Pinkie wasn't really one for saying goodbye.

"They went home Pinkie," Celestia said putting a wing over the upset pony's shoulder. 

"But why? Don't they like it here?" she said.

"Of this Pinkie, I am sure. But they needed to go home once more." Zecora said smiling holding her staff. "But do not worry my friends Pinkie, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Verde, Spike and Applejack, for I have a feeling in my bones in time, they will be back."

With that, Pinkie's hair reproofed itself as she cried "Okie-Dokie-Lokie." and went back to planning the party she was working on.








With a thump, Sarah and Eric landed back in his room under the painting of the Mare in the Moon back in their school uniforms Sarah's hair back into it's messy state, both rubbing their heads.

"Did... Did that really just happen?" she asked looking at the silver paintbrush laying between them.

"I think it did Princess look," Eric said pointing to the charm bracelet still on Sarah's right wrist.

"Which means, we..." she said blushing as she looked into his eyes.

Suddenly a knocking at the door brought them out of each others spell as the stood up and brushed themselves down.

"Come in" Eric said after getting a nod from Sarah saying it was alright.

Eric's mum came in with a tray of biscuits and juice.

"I thought the two of you would be hungry so I brought you a snack." Mrs Foster said holding a tray and placing it on to the desk as she saw the new painting walking over to it.

"Very good you two," she said smiling. "But there's something missing..." she said looking the painting over top to bottom, left to right, raising the two's nerves.

"You forgot to sign it. Any work as great as this needs to be signed you know." she said enjoying the sighs of relief she heard behind her as Sarah and Eric each took a pencil and signed the bottom right hand corner.

"I don't remember seeing that bracelet when you came here today Sarah," Mrs Forster said spying the charm bracelet on Sarah's wrist.

"Um... It's new, and because of that I haven't gotten use to it yet, so it was in my pocket when I came over." Sarah said playing with the charms after she put the pencil down. (It's the truth isn't it?).

"Well it looks lovely," she said heading for the door. "Are you going to stay for dinner tonight?" 

"Yes please Mrs Foster," Sarah said smiling.





Sarah's life was never the same again.

Sure her parents still ran the school, and sure she still hated it. But now she had a friend to hate things with, and when life in their world got too much, they would go see their friends in Equestria and have adventures and fun, always coming back feeling a lot better than when they left.


The End